HIV AIDS STD & STIs

Diagnosis of STDS

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Some STDs can be diagnosed without any tests at all (pubic lice). Other STDs require a blood test or a sample of any unusual fluid such as an abnormal discharge from the vagina or the penis for gonorrhea or chlamydia to be analyzed in a lab to help establish a diagnosis. Some tests are completed while a person waits; other tests require a few days before a person may obtain the results. Physical examination,, and thorough medical history, plus one or more of the following blood tests in individuals 18 months of age or greater: Rapid HIV test completed on blood or saliva, ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) antibody blood test. If the sample tests positive for HIV, the more-accurate Western blot antibody blood test or an HIV nucleic acid test (viral load or HIV DNA PCR) is performed to confirm a diagnosis. For infants under 18 months of age, an HIV nucleic acid test (viral load or HIV DNA PCR) is recommended